Tokyo Commits to New Volleyball Arena for Olympics

(ATR) After a spending review, Tokyo’s governor has confirmed that a new arena for 2020 Olympic volleyball will be built – $55 million cheaper than first planned.

Yuriko Koike said Friday that Ariake Arena would be constructed after all, rather than housing Olympic volleyball at an existing facility in Yokohama.

The arena will cost about $287 million, the governor told a press conference in Tokyo Friday. It was previously budgeted at around $342 million.

She said the city’s government was hoping to find a total of $339 million in construction savings across the venues for volleyball, swimming, and the rowing and canoe facility. New technologies and the use of geothermal energy were among ways to slash costs, Koike added.

"I have taken into account various factors along with the IOC’s Agenda 2020, including usage of existing facilities and how much each option would cost," Koike was quoted by The Japan Times.

The new budget plan for the venues will be presented for approval at the Dec. 21 meeting of a four-party working group, including Tokyo 2020 and IOC officials, which is working to reduce the cost of the Tokyo Games.

Tokyo 2020 leaders expressed their satisfaction with the revamped plan for volleyball.

"Tokyo Metropolitan Government reached this decision after examining all of the choices carefully. And in this respect, we are delighted to hear that the original venue plan is once again considered to be pursued," a spokesman told Around the Rings.

"The Ariake Arena to be set in the heart of the Tokyo Bay area will not only represent an iconic venue of the Games but become an important post-Games legacy enriching the metropolitan life through sports and culture."

Earlier this month, the IOC’s inspection chief for Tokyo 2020 John Coates told ATR he was confident around $60 million in savings could be made on the volleyball arena whether a new arena was built or not.

He said the four-party task force’s review of spending had resulted in the significant savings across the Tokyo Olympic venues. "That’s a very good outcome," he told ATR.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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